Unrealistic Potential

The situation Celestia had found herself in was proving to become more difficult than she had imagined. Watching his face turn into one succumbed to joy, brought a bubbly sensation in her chest, resting on her heart. "Celestia. It reminds me of the stars, a realm so beautiful and full of wonder that I have no doubt it is where you originated." Celestia’s mouth twitched into a smile, her laugh wrapping them in warm velvet. Turning her gaze to the fire in a girlish embarrassment, she covered her mouth and took a breath before looking back at him. “Does that work with all of them, Simon?” Celestia giggled again and swayed her body into him, nudging him with her shoulder. Staring at the fire, watching him tend to his duties, she realized how all of his work could be fixed with a few words. Yet, she refrained. Watching the flames provide shadows over his skin, the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexing with ease at the idle movements. Swallowing hard, Celestia turned her gaze back to the meat she had offered.

Looking up at him, she resisted the temptation to meet him halfway. After his boyish grin returned, she realized the double meaning that took hold over her words. Certainly, her subconscious had implied it. Her cheeks became red from embarrassment, and she let out a short laugh. Furrowing her brow, she turned her attention to the fire. She could feel his eyes roam her, but the intent was entirely different from his previous looks. This time, her body tensed under his stare.

As if the change in his stature forced her to turn, she shifted to face him as well. "Celestia, why were you in the woods?" A gurgling sound from the depths of her soul pushed upward, but Celestia forced Him back down. Nothing about the time around her sped up, everything seemed to slow down, and her senses seemed to hone on the crackling fire. “Searching,” she squeaked. Part of her dared for him to ask more from her, but the other half begged him not to. She didn’t want the potential, completely unrealistic, fantasy of a future between them to be destroyed. Not here, in a forest, with someone listening, someone watching, not here.